A/N: Thank-you everyone for the reviews, they are much appreciated. Also I'm sorry for leaving you all on the edge of your seat with the last chapter…so here you are chapter three.

fragonknight01: thank you for telling me that, still a little new at all this.

Chapter three:

Finding answers in our enemies

Voices

"Did they contact you Albus?"

"Yes, yes of course, they feel dreadful about not being able to make it"

"Albus, could you please do something about Mr. Malfoy, the others are having trouble restraining him-he insists on coming in at once"

"Might as well just let the boy in Poppy"

"But Mr. Potter is recovering and…oh fine, but only Mr. Malfoy and that's IT!"

People walking

"LET. ME. SEE. HIM. NOW!"

"If you will control yourself and desist at raising your voice young man then yes you may see…MR. MALFOY."

"Let go of my robes-"

Footsteps getting closer

"Harry?"

My name?

"Whrmi" slurred the raven-haired boy, his body folded onto the mattress comfortably.

"He's awake! Harry can you hear me? How are you feeling?" a boy to Harry's right spoke, his voice ringing with relief.

"Where am I?"

"You're in the Hospital wing yet again Mr. Potter, now shush so I can feed you a potion for your headache" the familiar, calming yet irritated sound of Madam Pomfrey stated.

Harry drowned the potion like a famished child, the vial taste molding into his mouth as he slowly opened his eyes to the bright room that was no doubt the Infirmary. He took a moment to admire his surroundings, taking note of the warm layer of creamy white bed coverings, large circular windows and the plain grey walls.

"Why am I here? What happened?" the Gryffindor questioned suddenly as he began patting around the bed for his specks "did something happen to my glasses?"

"No there right here" the same boy to Harry's right spoke, handing said glasses.

For a moment Harry was almost sure the lenses clasped in black frames where now rubbish because Draco Malfoy was seated worriedly in the chair next to his bed and if Malfoy wasn't enough both Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall where also looming over him-apparently something really bad must have happened, that or I really am blind, Harry contemplated. He turned his head to the left hoping against hope that Hermione and Ron would be right beside him to, his hope was diminished at once 'I guess they really don't want to have anything to do with me' the teen thought bitterly.

Emitting a groan in the back of his throat, he suddenly couldn't careless what had happened to him, and he voiced this before anyone could answer his question "Actually I don't really want to know what happened…I just want to be alone." 'Cause that's all I'll ever be is alone.'

"See he wants to be alone, what did I tell you the boy needs his rest. Now shoo." The mid-witch hissed, handing the dazed Gryffindor a pepper-up potion that reminded Harry of tasteless jelly.

"…but I want to stay with him" Draco pouted, the outside of his silver robs Harry noticed, a puffy pink.

"Mr. Malfoy for the last…"

"Its ok Madam Pomfrey, he can stay if he wants" Harry mumbled, briefly wondering why on earth Draco Malfoy wanted to stay with him other then to put an end to his life. Then again he was practically giving him an open invitation to do so, allowing the Slytherin to stay in the room with him, with out supervision.

'I'm surprised Dumbledore is even allowing him to come in a see me, then again the bastard trusts almost every one and the last thing on his mind is Draco Malfoy chocking me to death in my sleep. Well go right at her Malfoy, you can be Voldemort's Queen and I'll be the-boy-who-failed-the-wizarding world' the Gryffindor thought, letting out a choked laugh in the process.

In a matter of minutes the room was cleared of its occupants, except one Harry Potter and one Draco Malfoy. The blond snorted as the mid-witch gave him her most disapproving glare and shut the door to her office.

Harry shuffled his bevy awkwardly, back facing the blond and dumped the covers plainly over his mop of hair, 'maybe if I close my eyes and ignore the git he'll go away.'

"You've been here for almost a full week now, I…when I saw you hit the ground I thought…I thought you where dead-why didn't you stop?"

It took a moment for Draco's words to register in Harry's mind, but it did not take long for the memories of that Monday to sink in-the Monday he tired to drive himself and his Fire Bolt into the ground just as Malfoy was rushing toward him-to stop him.

Back still turned to the blond, he said harshly "I didn't know you even cared, but since your asking I was trying to crash into the ground in hopes that I might die a nice quick death-apparently I managed to even fail at that. Why are you here any way Malfoy? Don't you think your Slytherin cronies will be a bit pissed at you associating with the Gryffindor Golden boy?"

Draco's eyes flared with rage and unmistakable hurt, he could once again feel the burning sensation of hot tears welling up in his eyes. Standing up in a graceful, yet heated manner he glared down at the raven-haired boy as if he where nothing but filth.

"What the Hells is wrong with you Harry? You know it hasn't been Potter vs. Malfoy since first year. Ever since I found you lying in the dungeon corridors that night you've been a completely different person. I…Gods I don't even know what to say to you, every thing that comes out of your mouth that is directed to me is filled with such hatred and distain…"

Harry felt like a lost child at a fair, his mind was such a blunder of confusion-'either Malfoy has lost his bloody mind or I have been living in a nightmare the past sixteen years of my life' the Gryffindor mused.

Tired of not being able to see the other boys face, Harry turned around and sat up only to find a standing, angry and distressed Draco glaring daggers at him in the most "Malfoy-ish" way. He leaned against the head bored and heaved a heavy sigh.

"Look Malfoy..."

"My name is fucking DRACO!" the Slytherin hissed none too lightly. Closing his eyes and counting to ten slowly in his head, the blond slumped back into the wooden chair, opening his cold, steel orbs.

"I don't understand you, why after all these years do you want me to call you Draco? When have I ever been anything other then 'fucking Potter' to you?" Harry questioned, pulling away from Malfoy's seething glare.

"WHAT! Harry are you mad? Have you lost your memory or something? What have I done to make you think I hate you? Don't you remember anything-we haven't called each other by out last names since first year. I'm going to get Pomfrey."

The blond pulled himself up worriedly from his chair and turned to the mid-witches office.

"No!" Harry whispered harshly as he grabbed the blond by the side of his robes and accidentally pulled Draco right on top of him.

In a tangled mess of robes, creamy sheets, arms and legs Draco looked down to see him straddling a very embarrassed Gryffindor whose emerald eyes where glittering with innocence and his teeth biting absent mindedly on his bottom lip.

Silver and emerald orbs locked instantly and the world seemed to stop around them, there breathing was ragged as there trance like state sent shivers up both boys spines.

"You're so beautiful" Draco whispered softly, then mentally slapped himself. He pulled away from Harry all too quickly-moving away from the Gryffindor and heading straight for the door.

"I should go" the blond said, his face drawn in a mask of indifference.

Harry was sure that if is mind didn't stop spinning with questions and adrenalin he was going to pass out. There where just too many things happening at once, he and Draco Malfoy where friends? Good friends since some time around first year? He thinks I'm beautiful? Draco Malfoy was straddling me and all I could think about was what it would feel like if he kissed me? What in the name of Merlin is going on? Oh Gods I feel nauseous.

"Wait! Don't go…please" Harry said, his voice a simple plea. "Look, err…Draco, I don't know what's going on-the night I was in the dungeons, I remember everything before that, I remember running. I was looking for something important and then I feel, after that I just remember waking up here. I felt like I had just woken up from the longest nightmare of my life, but fuck…I don't know what's going on and its driving me mad. In my nightmare you hate me and now…"

Harry cut himself off, planting his head in his hands and letting out a choked sob. He felt warm fingers pry his hands away from his face and looked up to see those enchanting silver eyes of Draco Malfoy. Pale arms pulled him close and the Gryffindor found himself in a position he never thought possible: His head was resting in the crook of the Slytherin's neck, embraced intimately together on a hospital bed. For the first time since the death of his God Father Harry finally felt content and needed.

They sat in a comfortable silence for a short time as Draco drew meaningless circles on Harry's back, he leaned closer to the Gryffindor's ear to whisper his thoughts "How about we convince Madam Pomfrey that you're all good and healed then we sneak out with your father's cloak down to the Shirking Shack and you can tell me everything there, Okay? If you want I can go get Hermione and Weasley"

Harry pulled his head up to look deep within the Slytherin's orbs, "How do you know about my fathers cloak? And since when did you start calling Hermione by her first name?"

"Honestly Harry, me and Hermione are friends, Weasley and I now that's a different story. Oh never mind, come on you go talk to Pomfrey and I'll meet you out side the Hospital wing in half an hour with…"

"No, I don't really want Ron and Hermione to be there" Harry whispered as he looked pointedly at his feet now touching the floor.

Draco croaked his to one side, regarding the Gryffindor as a small smile played upon his lips "Ok Harry, just you and me. I'll be back"

Harry watched Draco Malfoy leave in his ever graceful manner, 'I rather like this Draco' the Gryffindor mused, smiling to himself as he rose and walked happily to the mid-witches office.

They got to the Shack quite later then expected, it took both the Slytherin and Gryffindor to convince the nurse that Harry was perfectly fine and finally after agreeing to check in with her in the morning where they allowed leaving. Draco had spent most of the time telling Hermione and Ron that they where going for a "sleep over" as he put it, in the Shirking Shack and then had to race to the dungeon's to gather his things, the invisibility cloak which he explained to Harry was in his dorm because it was Draco's turn to sneak off to Gryffindor tower.

"So I sleep in the Slytherin common room sometimes…and you come to Gryffindor to sleep on our common room couch? I'm surprised either of us hasn't been murdered yet." Harry has said with a little shock.

Draco just chuckled and said "well most of the Slytherin's are fine having you there and they would never try anything any way considering me and you normally fall asleep on the couch in the midst of our homework. As for Gryffindor, they still aren't use to it after all these years."

And so now here they where, Draco sprawled along the right side of dusty bed and Harry sitting cross legged against the head bored in the Shirking Shack, both boys staring at each other intensely as the silence reigned on.

"I don't know why you're so nervous, we do this all the time" Draco spoke suddenly as he turned to lie on his back, his silver orbs glittering wildly.

Harry blushed a light shade of pink at the blond's words and looked away, staring at the tattered wall ahead, "I'm not nervous" he denied as he began biting on his bottom lip

A trade mark smirk graced the Slytherin's face, "Harry I know you better then Weasley and Hermione put together. When you get nervous you always nibble intensely on your bottom lip and pull at your sleeves, when you're embarrassed you blush a dark red that lights up your face and then you dart your eyes in all different directions…

You use to know me once too" Draco stated, though the last line brought his face into a hard and chilling emotionless mask.

Harry observed Draco, up close his mask wasn't so strong - he could see the hurt and disappointment deep in his eyes and the way his mouth arched into a hardly noticeable frown. "The Draco Malfoy I knew despised me, I think if he was given the choice to kill anyone in the school…you would have with out thought picked me. His face was always fixated with the Malfoy mask of indifference and you and I where school rivalries since our first day at Hogwarts. You would always try your hardest to hurt me or my friends, but the funny thing was I liked it; I almost looked forward to it. Wired I know, but you made me feel something other then numbing pain and you never ignored me or pitied me-it was nice.

I don't know if this is all a dream or if I've just woken up from a sixteen year long nightmare. I mean if me and you are good friends as you say, then I wonder what else is different. I just don't understand any of this and I have a feeling that what ever is happening has something to do with that night in the dungeon's…I just don't fucking remember it!"

"Harry if you don't calm down your going to make the house explode with your magic or something-then where would we hide out hmm?" Draco cooed softly, though he wasn't entirely happy-what Harry had just said about him was in its own way some what frightening.

"I think I might have the clue to help us figure this thing out." the blond said as he grabbed his book bag off the floor and began rummaging through it.

Harry watched the silver eyed boy uneasily, he didn't know if it was safe to trust him…but for some odd reason deep within the Gryffindor he knew he could. Every one seemed to be acting a little odd actually…almost as if there was nothing to worry about.

"Harry does this mean anything to you?" Draco asked, pulling the raven-haired boy away from his thoughts.

He gaped at what he saw, there in Draco's pastel hands was the glowing silver of an angelic mirror that he had come upon deep within the dungeon's…it was all coming back to him now.

Harry had felt the mirrors power draw him deeper into the corridor, he'd fallen to the ground only to pick up a hand mirror instead of his glasses. There had been light, light so flawless it seemed to rain down on him from the heavens. There was a slideshow of comforting moments in his life, mostly when he had been a baby-his mother cradling him in her arms. Then he was suddenly being sucked into the very façade of the mirror, trapped and spinning as image after image played around him-watching moments of his life silently through his fifteen year old eyes. The visions performed faster and faster until all at once Harry had been thrown from the mirror.

The same world, but a different image

And unlike before he had held no reflection, but now what he saw was him self. His reflection was more of a stilled muggle photo; he was suddenly knocked out of his trance by Draco's worried voice.

"Harry, there's something written on the back of this, do you want me to read it to you?"

The Gryffindor said nothing, only moved his tanned hand and fingers and warped them around the blonds pale vanilla ones-the ones coiled around the handle of the mirror. Draco raised an eye brow at the action as Harry smiled shyly.

"If I'm right you'll understand why in a minute, just read" Harry affirmed, nodding his head toward the object.

"Mirror image, take away this empty reflection

Mirror image, show me timeless perfection

Mirror image, give me a chance at redemption

Mirror image, please no more deception

Reveal to me truth where I only see lies

Teach me to smile in replace of my cries

Fill my vacant heart with another's bonded love

Bring me what was taken from the havens above

Mirror image, interrupt the dials of time

Mirror image, allow me one last dream

Mirror image, draw your angelic line

Mirror image, wipe my stained essence clean

Oh Mirror Image, reflection of time."

Draco didn't notice it before, but he sure as hell did now. Uncontrolled silver and pricing white light was spinning around both he and Harry like a wild storm. It was making Draco almost nauseous, but then he locked eyes with Harry and it all stopped in seconds. Then the blond felt like he was being pulled from his body, it was extremely agonizing and it seemed to take an eternity until both he and the Gryffindor, still hand in hand began to watch the time line of images play before there eyes. The images of Harry Potter's life.

So Draco watched from beginning to end, the images started the summer Harry had learned he was a wizard. Both boys observed year after year, summer after summer of Harry's life. It was heart wrenching and brutal for Draco as he survey death, murder, abuse, lies, jealousy and pity from those in Harry's life, even he himself had been one of these persons. The slideshow of images came and went like the seasons of the year, most of the time the Gryffindor would close his eyes, unable to look at his life with his own eyes. The last vision that transpired before there orbs was Harry racing down into the darkness of the dungeons.

In a painful flash, quicker then lightning, Harry and Draco were back in there chilled bodies, back in the Shirking Shack. Both boys clung to each other like a life line, there breathing was irregular just as there bevies shivered uncontrollably. Being away from ones body was a very nasty process indeed.

Pulling his wand from his back pocket, Harry cast a warming spell upon Draco and himself, along with the bed they now occupied. They curled underneath the old, tattered sheets, not even bothering with the pajamas the blond had brought. It was a mindless act as Harry pulled Draco up against his chest and wrapped his arms around him possessively, but the Slytherin didn't mind in the slightest. In a matter of minutes, both the Slytherin and the Gryffindor where in a deep, dreamless slumber as there bodies molded perfectly together, neither noticed the shattered hand mirror lying dull and numb on the cold, wooden floor.

"Harry…Harry wake up you dolt" Draco whispered loudly in the sleeping boy's ear.

"Mmm" was Harry's only response.

"Harry wake up, your lying on half my body and we have to get back to the castle before everyone wakes up" the blond said with out heat, if he where to be perfectly honest he could stay like this for the rest of his life, with Harry.

"Too comfortable. Don't want to move" mumbled the sleepy Gryffindor into Draco's neck.

The Slytherin gasped at the sensation and immediately pushed Harry off of him so hard the teen fell to the floor. It would not do any good having to explain to Harry why he had a hard on from his best friend lying on top of him.

"Ouch! What did you do that for?" Harry grumbled, rubbing his head and riffling his already messy locks.

Draco just looked sheepish then smirked down at the raven-haired boy. He rose elegantly from the bed, went over to his bag to search for his wand and stopped mid-way when he herd Harry give out a sharp cry behind him and fall to his knees.

"Oh Gods…" the blond breathed as he too dropped to his knees, next to Harry where the broken pieces of the mirror lay.

"How am I going to get back? Every one is going to think I am dead…I don't want to leave every one to fend for themselves…Draco what…" Harry just shook his head from side to side, still staring in horror at the sight before him.

Draco wasn't watching the alarmed teen beside him, he was reading the poem that had some how transported them into the mirror-the one that showed him Harry's other life. And then it hit him…

"Harry this mirror…it interferes with time, it stops it." Draco stated in fascination.

A very distressed Harry looked up at the blond in confusion, "what do you mean?"

"Look at the poem on the back, one of the lines says 'Mirror Image, interrupt the dials of time.' That should mean, and I think it does-that the life or the world where you where before, time has somehow stopped there. I don't know for how long time will be on pause, but…" Draco just read the poem again; he was utterly enthralled by such an immaculate object.

"So you're saying that this mirror has for some reason stopped time…" Harry questioned

"I'm not entirely sure Harry, there is more to this poem then meets the eye…as well as with the mirror. I think we should talk to Hermione about this, there is bound to be a book on it and I'm sure if we had her help we could find it in a flash." Draco began pacing back and forth, silently contemplating there, or Harry's, whole predicament.

He stopped pacing and turned to look worriedly at Harry, "I don't think it's a good idea to tell anyone other then Hermione and Weasley about the mirror. We could all do loads of research on it if we work together and I imagine fixing it should be much simpler once we know what were dealing with."

The blond walked over to his bag, pulled out black and emerald silk boxers and brought it over to the broken pieces of the mirror and silently began putting them on top. He wrapped the shards up and placed it carefully back into his bad. He spelled his hair to perfection and his Slytherin robs, clearing out all show of creases.

After a moment of watching the blond, Harry stood and straightened his own school robs, "I agree, but Ron and Hermione just ignore me all the time…what?" Harry asked, the blond was staring at him as if his skin where green.

"The Weasley and Hermione here don't ignore you just because they are dating…they are very good friends and they will understand and help you no matter what." Draco replied.

"Oh. Draco…what else is different here? Every one is going to think I'm as mad as a hatter if I keep getting baffled. I mean I said really hurtful things to you the other day because I didn't know what was going on…I still don't. Gods this is fucking confusing."

The blond didn't answer for a moment; he just stared at those emerald galaxies that where Harry's eyes. He picked up his book bag silently, and then graced the boy with an answer.

"Like I said, we will keep it between you, I, Hermione and Weasley. There are great similarities between here and there" Draco pointed to his bag, indicating the mirror."However there is also a great many more differences, we will work this out, but for now just follow are lead. I'll give you a list of important things you will need to know and other things we can just play by ear."

Harry gazed long and hard into the Slytherin's glittering silver eyes, it was the first time that he had ever been able to truly see the faultless perfection that was Draco. He gave the blond a brilliant smile that reached his eyes and spoke barely above a whisper, "I already love how my life is here so far, it's nice to have you look at me with out disgust or loathing, it's nice to finally meet the real Draco Malfoy."

The blond bowed his head sadly; he had been so disturbed by who he was there, his face a mask of cold indifference-just like his father. But Draco knew that mask, he could see through it so clearly-in so many ways the Draco he was here was same as the Draco there. Only he was free here and…

"You would be surprised how much the Draco Malfoy you know is just like the Draco Malfoy you see here. You want to know the only difference between us…I am free and he is not" the blond stated, still staring at the floor.

Harry crocked his head to one side and regarded the Slytherin thoughtfully, "what do you mean?"

This time Draco did look up to meet emerald eyes as he spoke softly to his best friend, "He has a bastard for a father ruling his life where as I have only a mother-both loving and perfect in every way. The Draco Malfoy there has never loathed you and I guarantee you he never will, but to love you and to befriend you would mean his death. Why do you think he doesn't just ignore you? The only way that Draco can be near to you is if he is vile-do you know what his eyes say every time he hurts you, sees you?"

Harry just shook his head as his emerald orbs filled with shame.

"He says 'I'm so sorry. You're my only second chance Harry, save me. Save me before I am to far gone.' Just look harder and you will see his pain" Draco whispered, he walked over to Harry who was shaking rather badly at the news of his formal rival.

Tears welled in his eyes, Harry didn't know if he was crying in joy or in sadness at hearing those words…maybe it were both. But he did know one thing-when he returned he was going to save Draco Malfoy if it was the last thing he did.

He whipped roughly at his eyes, smearing tears along his face as he finally looked up at Draco who grabbed him forcefully and pulled him into a warm hug. "Come on, lets go talk to Hermione and Weasley maybe we can skive classes and we can tell them everything that's going on" the blond said patiently.

Harry looked up at Draco, still in his arms and grinned brightly, "Okay" and with that both boys left the dusty Shack and made there way back to Hogwarts. It was early in the morning so they would no doubt catch Ron and Hermione before they left for breakfast or even woke up. Harry and Draco walked side by side the whole way back, fingers and shoulders brushing ever so often, making them both unable to suppress there blushing smiles.

A/N: Please let me know what you think, I'm not sure it all makes sense.

Also the poem 'Mirror Image' carved onto the back of the hand mirror was created by me.